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South Kent School

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Coordinates:41°40′35″N73°28′45″W/ 41.6765°N 73.4792°W/41.6765; -73.4792
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South Kent School
Address
Map
40 Bulls Bridge Road

South Kent
,
Connecticut
06785

United States
Information
TypePrivate,boarding
MottoSimplicity of Life, Self-Reliance, and Directness of Purpose
Religious affiliation(s)Episcopal
Established1923(101 years ago)(1923)
CEEB code070695
Head of schoolBrian D. Sullivan
Enrollment165 boarding[1]
Average class size10 students
Student to teacher ratio5:1
Color(s)Cardinal and black
Athletics8 interscholastic sports
NicknameCardinals
Websitesouthkentschool.org

South Kent School,a private all-boysboarding schoolinSouth Kent, Connecticut,[2]United States, is located on a 650-acre (2.6 km2) campus in westernLitchfield County.It is sited on Spooner Hill east ofBull's Bridge,overlooking the formerHousatonic Valley rail-line,Hatch Pond, and the 'whistle-stop' South Kent station, and is itself overlooked by Bull Mountain.

The school has an operating budget of approximately $14 million[3]and a staff of less than 100. From its inception, South Kent School was intended to offer a service-oriented education "at minimum cost for boys of ability and character, who presumably on graduation must be self-supporting.[4]"Its motto is"Simplicity of life, Self-reliance, and Directness of purpose".

History

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The hamlet of South Kent emerged in the mid-1700s on the "main road over Spooner Hill to Bull's Bridge",[5]where Jacob Bull established an iron foundry; by 1800, an ironworks and forge were also set up near the outlet from Hatch Pond. When railroads came up the valley in the 1840s,[6]efficient competition from western foundries shuttered the Connecticut iron industry.[7]By 1920, the area's population was half its Revolution-era level, and farm properties were available inexpensively.[8]

The school was founded in 1923 as a joint venture between ReverendFrederick Herbert Sill,headmaster ofKent School,and two of his recent graduates, Samuel Slater Bartlett and Richard M. Cuyler. The Straight farm was purchased from members of the Judd family, and additions to the farmhouse were made to house a chapel, twenty-four students, and faculty. From the start, students provided labor for daily cleaning, maintenance, and unskilled construction. Over the years, several buildings were added to the Straight property, and additional acreage was acquired. Most recently, the defunct farm on the north end of Hatch Pond was purchased.[9]

Sam Bartlett became the firstheadmaster,serving for 45 years. Bartlett was followed as headmaster by conservationist L. Wynne Wister (1955–69), then George M. Bartlett (son of the first headmaster) through 1989. Peter Arango had a brief tenure, then Noble Richards '49 was headmaster until 1996. He was succeeded by John S. Farber (96-00), John C. Farr '58 (retired in 2003), then by Andrew J. Vadnais through 2018,[10]then followed by Lawrence A. Smith '73. An independent board of trustees governs the school.[11]South Kent School's most current head of school is Brian D. Sullivan.

Admissions

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Enrollment at the beginning of the 2022–23 school year was 150 young men worldwide in four "forms" (or grades). International students from twenty nations and U.S. students from nineteen states across America are represented.[12]

Curriculum

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South Kent is acollege-preparatoryschool; the course of study is designed with the intent that every student will continue his education at a higher-level institution.

In 2017–18, the school had 35 faculty members who offered 48 courses in 2 primary divisions, math/science, and humanities. The school year is divided into fall, winter, and spring. Students typically enroll in five major academic courses each term.[13]Accelerated courses, including advanced placement, are offered in more than a dozen subjects (several in conjunction with Syracuse University[14]).

English as a second language

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ESL is a program for international students to improve or reinforce written and oral English skills. The focus is on structure, comprehension, and conversation. Nearly half of South Kent graduates have been non-native English speakers in recent years.[15]

Center for Innovation

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Due in part to its rural setting, the school has established a learning track focused on environmental management and entrepreneurship. Technologies range from historic architecture and building techniques to robotics and software design.[16][17][18]

Extracurricular activities

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Athletics

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Facilities available to students include TheAdmiral James&Sybil StockdaleArena, the Joseph J. Brown gymnasium, the Alumni Boathouse on Hatch Pond for rowing, the Anne H. Funnell cross-country trail, the hard court tennis courts, a weight-training facility, numerous athletics fields, and the adjacentTom Fazio-designed Bulls Bridge Golf Club.[19]

Publications

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  • The Pigtail: a student publication issued three to five times yearly. The name of the paper is a reference to the nickname of the hamlet of South Kent as "Pigtail Corners" or simply "Pigtail".[20]A slogan at the school for many years was "Pigtail Against the World".
  • The Hillside: the South Kent School alum magazine is published twice annually.
  • Cardinal News Network: a student-produced online publication that is updated continually. Cardinal News Network features the videos and stories created by students in the Digital Communications classes.[21]

Notable SKS people

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Over one hundred years, the school has been home to fewer than 3,000 students, resident faculty and their families, and several other notables.

  • Florence Maybrick,a notorious convicted murderess, is buried in the school cemetery.
  • Martin H. M. Schreiber,photographer, did not graduate but retains his affiliation with the school and the class of 1965.
  • AdmiralJames Stockdale,(Medal of Honor recipient, P.O.W., Vice-Presidential Candidate) & Mrs.Sybil Stockdale- parents of three SKS alumni. The ice-hockey facility is named in their honor.

Distinguished alumni

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Athletes

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Father Sillwrote in his proposal for the founding ofKent Schoolthat it would"provide...for boys of ability and character, who presumably on graduation must be self-supporting...Simplicity, self-reliance and directness...."[35]Seventeen years later, he and his partners in the South Kent venture adopted the last as the new school's motto. In the early 2000s, Headmaster Vadnais and the Board recognized that young athletes with professional aspirations not only fit the description in Father Sill's proposal,[36]but that many of them were likely to see high school as the final step in their education, as well.[37][38]The number of notable athletes who have graduated from South Kent has burgeoned during the past quarter-century.[39]They include:

Several notable athletes attended South Kent but graduated elsewhere; among themNik Stauskas,Dion Waiters,Tremont Waters,[57]andAndrew Peeke.

Accreditations and associations

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South Kent School is accredited by theNew England Association of Schools and Colleges[58]and has held membership in District III of theCum Laude Societyfor more than eighty years.

South Kent competes athletically as a member of theNew England Preparatory School Athletic Counciland the Hudson Valley Athletic League and adheres to all league guidelines. Students can participate in post-season tournaments and compete for league and New England titles.

The school also maintains membership in[59]theNational Association of Independent Schools,[60]theNational Association of Episcopal Schools,[61]theSecondary School Admission Test Board,the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools, the International Coalition of Boys Schools and theNational Association for College Admission Counseling.[62]

References

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  1. ^"Who We Are".
  2. ^"South Kent School | Independent, Non-Public K-12 Schools (CIS) / Commission on Independent Schools".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-03.Retrieved2015-01-19.
  3. ^"South Kent School (SKS) | South Kent, CT | Cause IQ".
  4. ^"South Kent School | History".2007-07-28. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-07-28.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  5. ^"Rufus Fuller & The South Kent Ore Bed – Kent Historical Society".Kent Historical Society.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  6. ^"The Growth of Kent from 1756 to 1950".Kent Historical Society.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  7. ^"The Iron Industry of Northwest Connecticut".19 October 2015.
  8. ^Barnard, Charles H.; Jones, John (1987)."Farm real estate values in the United States by counties, 1850-1982"(PDF).Retrieved2022-10-30.
  9. ^Carlson, Wendy (19 November 2011).""At Prep School, Rolling Up Sleeves and Working the Soil"".The New York Times.
  10. ^"Andrew J. Vadnais | South Kent School".southkentschool.org.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  11. ^"Board of Trustees".
  12. ^"Get To Know South Kent School".southkentschool.org.5 January 2023.Retrieved2023-03-01.
  13. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2015-01-19.Retrieved2015-01-19.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^"Syracuse University Project Advance".supa.syr.edu.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  15. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2017-09-17.Retrieved2017-05-25.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^"Educational Programming | South Kent School".southkentschool.org.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  17. ^"South Kent School, Center for Innovation | Design Thinking in Schools K12 Directory".designthinkinginschools.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  18. ^"South Kent School Launches Innovative Technology Platform for 21st Century Learning".Retrieved2018-06-04.
  19. ^"Bulls Bridge Golf Club".
  20. ^"History of Kent, CT".
  21. ^"Cardinal News Network".Archived fromthe originalon 2023-05-15.
  22. ^"Jim Bellows dies at 86; legendary editor of L.A. Herald Examiner".Los Angeles Times.7 March 2009.Retrieved2022-09-02.
  23. ^"1965 Pulitzer Prizes".Retrieved2023-11-25.
  24. ^"1998: 50th Emmy Awards".Retrieved2023-08-04.
  25. ^"RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Nauset and vicinity".wc.rootsweb.ancestry.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  26. ^"Charles C. Gillispie".
  27. ^"Alumnus Profile".South Kent School.Retrieved2022-09-02.
  28. ^"2003 Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award Winner".Retrieved2023-11-10.
  29. ^Smith, Harrison (December 28, 2019)."Neal Peirce, urban affairs columnist who championed inclusive cities, dies at 87".The Washington Post.Retrieved2022-09-03.
  30. ^Collins-Freeman, Charlene (October 3, 2012)."Interview with an artist, Charles Reid"(PDF).Hot Press.
  31. ^"Jonathan Richards | HuffPost".huffingtonpost.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  32. ^"The Right Reverend Samuel Rodman".Episcopal Farmworker Ministry. 5 May 2020.Retrieved2022-09-02.
  33. ^Hevesi, Dennis (10 December 2010)."Martin Russ, a Marine Who Wrote About Combat, Dies at 79".The New York Times.
  34. ^"Rathvon McClure Tompkins,, Major General, United States Marine Corps".12 July 2022.
  35. ^"South Kent School | History".southkentschool.net.Archived fromthe originalon 28 July 2007.Retrieved2 September2022.
  36. ^"Hoop Dreams at South Kent".CBS News.14 July 2005.
  37. ^Parker, David (21 November 2004)."There's Basketball in Those Hills".The New York Times.
  38. ^Thamel, Pete(23 April 2006)."A Cry in the Streets of Brooklyn is Answered by a Prep School".The New York Times.
  39. ^"South Kent tops prep school rankings".December 2011.
  40. ^"Andray Blatche on Basketball-Ref".
  41. ^"2017–18 Men's Basketball Roster – University of Pittsburgh".pittsburghpanthers.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  42. ^"The Forties | U.S. Figure Skating".
  43. ^"THE FOURS, PAIRS AND ICE DANCE COMPETITIONS".
  44. ^"Jackie Carmichael International Stats".
  45. ^"Joel Farabee on Hockey-Ref".
  46. ^"Shayne Gostisbehere on Hockey-Ref".
  47. ^"Mo Harkless on Basketball-Ref".
  48. ^"David Hicks – 2007 Men's Basketball".Retrieved2018-06-04.
  49. ^"Elijah Hughes on Basketball-Ref".
  50. ^"Ricky Ledo on Basketball-Ref".
  51. ^"Jack McClinton on Basketball-Ref".
  52. ^"Wade Megan on Hockey-Ref".
  53. ^"Myles Powell".,Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball.Accessed August 6, 2019. "Attended Medford Tech, Trenton Catholic, and most recently South Kent School... birthday is July 7 and was born in Trenton, N.J."
  54. ^"Big East Men's Basketball 2012-2013 All-Conference Teams".
  55. ^"Isaiah Thomas on Basketball-Ref".
  56. ^"Dorell Wright on Basketball-Ref".
  57. ^"The NBA Is Lucky I'm Home Doing Damn Articles | By Dion Waiters".The Players' Tribune.26 April 2017.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  58. ^"Directory of Accredited Independent Schools".
  59. ^"All Chapters Member schools"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2023-05-19.
  60. ^http:// nais.org/Users/Pages/SchoolDetails.aspx?accountid={CF434162-32F9-E111-8924-00505683000D}[bare URL][dead link]
  61. ^"NAES – National Association of Episcopal Schools".episcopalschools.org.Retrieved2018-06-04.
  62. ^"Institution/Organization Member Directory".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-05.Retrieved2015-01-20.
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41°40′35″N73°28′45″W/ 41.6765°N 73.4792°W/41.6765; -73.4792

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